Two opposition politicians have threatened legal action against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over the alleged alteration of the Peoples Democratic Party’s membership register in Ogun State, as a separate party chieftain accuses the ruling APC of seeking to weaken competition ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
Labour Party South-West National Vice Chairman, Dr Arabambi Abayomi, and Action Alliance governorship candidate, Prof Awofala Awolola, said they had petitioned INEC to preserve the original register and investigate claims that an affidavit was used to explain the omission of PDP candidate Ladi Adebutu’s name.
The politicians said they had not independently verified the existence or contents of the alleged affidavit. They want the commission to establish whether it was submitted, when it arrived and which officials handled it.
Their concern centres on the PDP governorship primary held in Abeokuta on May 24, 2026. They said the membership register submitted to INEC before the exercise excluded Adebutu, while a certified copy issued by the commission on July 20 also reflected the omission.
According to the petitioners, information circulating in a WhatsApp discussion suggested that a PDP executive member had described the omission as a party error in an affidavit. They warned that such a document should not automatically justify a retrospective change to an official register.
Citing Section 77 of the Electoral Act 2026 and a Supreme Court judgment they identified as INEC v. Zenith Labour Party, delivered on September 24, the politicians said the commission must comply with statutory requirements governing party membership records. They threatened to seek judicial intervention if credible evidence establishes unlawful alteration or substitution.
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Iyabo Obasanjo alleges political interference
The dispute has also drawn criticism from Senator Iyabo Obasanjo, the PDP’s Ogun Central senatorial candidate, who accused the state APC of fearing a competitive contest.
Speaking on the Abeokuta-based podcast The Arena, Obasanjo said Adebutu’s omission raised questions because, according to her, other PDP candidates had completed the same processes without similar problems.
“What is it that Honourable Ladi did differently than what we did?” she asked, adding that her inquiries suggested he had followed the same procedure.
Obasanjo alleged that political interests had influenced the situation, but the material provided does not establish who was responsible for Adebutu’s omission or whether any official improperly interfered with INEC’s records. The APC’s response to her allegation was not included in the report.
She warned that removing candidates through questionable administrative decisions could undermine electoral competition and expressed confidence that Adebutu’s name would eventually be restored.
INEC faces a test of record integrity
The immediate issue is whether the omission resulted from an administrative error, a dispute over compliance with electoral law or an improper intervention. Those possibilities require documentary evidence and an official explanation, not political claims alone.
INEC’s handling of the petition could have implications beyond Ogun State. Party membership registers help establish compliance with nomination rules, and disputes over their authenticity can trigger litigation, delay candidate recognition and weaken confidence in the electoral process.
The commission has been asked to preserve the original record, disclose whether the alleged affidavit exists and investigate any credible evidence of tampering. Until those questions are answered, neither the allegation of unlawful alteration nor the claims of political interference should be treated as established fact.
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